Helen Howard (Harry)
February 9, 1926 — May 2, 2010
HELEN MAXINE (HARRY) HOWARD, 84, of formerly of Manchester, IA, died May 2, 2010, at the Hospice Care facility in Madison, WI. Helen was born on February 9, 1926 on her family’s farm near Colesburg, IA. She was one of six children born to James Cleveland and Edna Marie (Davis) Harry.
Helen was educated in the Colesburg public schools and graduated from Colesburg Consolidated High School in 1944 in the Normal Training program, preparing her to become a rural school teacher. She was the Valedictorian of her class and was the only member of her class to speak at the graduation ceremonies, delivering her speech entirely from memory. Helen received additional normal training at University of Dubuque and at the University of Iowa.
Following her high school graduation, Helen taught in numerous rural schools in Delaware and Clayton Counties. Her teaching career included the rural schools near Osterdock (1 year and then it was closed), Canady Hill (1 year and then it closed), near Edgewood and Strawberry Point (1 year and then it closed), Dingusville (2 years), and at two schools in Milo Township for one year each. Helen's teaching career came during a frustrating period of time when the State of Iowa was phasing out and closing rural schools. Helen's contract at Dingusville was renewed for a third year of teaching and her school board guaranteed that the school would be kept open for another year, but then the school was suddenly closed late in the summer, leaving Helen with no teaching job at all. Fortunately, a school in Milo Township was looking for a teacher, and they hired Helen.
Helen married Hobart L. “Hobie” Howard on May 20th, 1951 at the Colesburg Methodist Church in Colesburg, IA. They were the parents of three sons: Dale Allen Howard, Gary David Howard, and Lynn Charles Howard. Lynn died 15 hours after birth because of a congenital heart condition. Hobie Howard died on February 13, 1992.
During her adult years, Helen was involved with numerous church and community organizations, including the following: Colesburg and Manchester United Methodist Churches; the Glendale United Methodist Church in Savage, MN; and the Middleton Community United Church of Christ in Middleton, WI. While a member of the Manchester UMC, Helen served as the church’s Financial Secretary, as the Treasurer of Building Fund, as the Improvement Fund Treasurer, and held membership in numerous church committees. Helen was a member for many years of the Manchester United Methodist Women, including serving as President. She received a Life Membership Pin from the Manchester UMW. She was a member of the Book Review Club, the Phi Delphian Club, the Audubon Club, the Courtwhist Club, and of numerous bridge clubs over the years in Manchester.
Helen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2005. After the diagnosis, Helen later sold her home in Manchester and moved into assisted living in Burnsville, MN to be near Gary and Leanne and their children. She was a resident of Emerald Crest Assisted Living in Burnsville until Gary and Leanne moved to Madison, WI after a job change. Helen moved with them to Madison and lived in the assisted living facilities of Wynnwood, Avalon, Sebring House, and the Sylvan Crossing of Waunakee. Helen never liked the food anywhere she lived!
Helen is survived by her two sons and their wives, Dale & Mickey Howard of Dunedin, FL, and Gary & Leanne Howard of Madison, WI; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; her two brothers and their wives, Cletus & Mary Kay Harry of Rochester, MN, and Roger & Joyce Harry of Manchester, IA; a sister and her husband, Phyllis & John Dyer of Cedar Rapids, IA.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Cleve & Edna Harry; her husband, Hobie Howard; an infant son, Lynn Charles Howard; a great-granddaughter, Kieran Baker; a brother, Donald Harry; and a sister and her husband, Gail & Karl Holthaus.
A memorial fund has been established in Helen's name.
Please sign the online guestbook for Helen at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Helen was educated in the Colesburg public schools and graduated from Colesburg Consolidated High School in 1944 in the Normal Training program, preparing her to become a rural school teacher. She was the Valedictorian of her class and was the only member of her class to speak at the graduation ceremonies, delivering her speech entirely from memory. Helen received additional normal training at University of Dubuque and at the University of Iowa.
Following her high school graduation, Helen taught in numerous rural schools in Delaware and Clayton Counties. Her teaching career included the rural schools near Osterdock (1 year and then it was closed), Canady Hill (1 year and then it closed), near Edgewood and Strawberry Point (1 year and then it closed), Dingusville (2 years), and at two schools in Milo Township for one year each. Helen's teaching career came during a frustrating period of time when the State of Iowa was phasing out and closing rural schools. Helen's contract at Dingusville was renewed for a third year of teaching and her school board guaranteed that the school would be kept open for another year, but then the school was suddenly closed late in the summer, leaving Helen with no teaching job at all. Fortunately, a school in Milo Township was looking for a teacher, and they hired Helen.
Helen married Hobart L. “Hobie” Howard on May 20th, 1951 at the Colesburg Methodist Church in Colesburg, IA. They were the parents of three sons: Dale Allen Howard, Gary David Howard, and Lynn Charles Howard. Lynn died 15 hours after birth because of a congenital heart condition. Hobie Howard died on February 13, 1992.
During her adult years, Helen was involved with numerous church and community organizations, including the following: Colesburg and Manchester United Methodist Churches; the Glendale United Methodist Church in Savage, MN; and the Middleton Community United Church of Christ in Middleton, WI. While a member of the Manchester UMC, Helen served as the church’s Financial Secretary, as the Treasurer of Building Fund, as the Improvement Fund Treasurer, and held membership in numerous church committees. Helen was a member for many years of the Manchester United Methodist Women, including serving as President. She received a Life Membership Pin from the Manchester UMW. She was a member of the Book Review Club, the Phi Delphian Club, the Audubon Club, the Courtwhist Club, and of numerous bridge clubs over the years in Manchester.
Helen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2005. After the diagnosis, Helen later sold her home in Manchester and moved into assisted living in Burnsville, MN to be near Gary and Leanne and their children. She was a resident of Emerald Crest Assisted Living in Burnsville until Gary and Leanne moved to Madison, WI after a job change. Helen moved with them to Madison and lived in the assisted living facilities of Wynnwood, Avalon, Sebring House, and the Sylvan Crossing of Waunakee. Helen never liked the food anywhere she lived!
Helen is survived by her two sons and their wives, Dale & Mickey Howard of Dunedin, FL, and Gary & Leanne Howard of Madison, WI; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; her two brothers and their wives, Cletus & Mary Kay Harry of Rochester, MN, and Roger & Joyce Harry of Manchester, IA; a sister and her husband, Phyllis & John Dyer of Cedar Rapids, IA.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Cleve & Edna Harry; her husband, Hobie Howard; an infant son, Lynn Charles Howard; a great-granddaughter, Kieran Baker; a brother, Donald Harry; and a sister and her husband, Gail & Karl Holthaus.
A memorial fund has been established in Helen's name.
Please sign the online guestbook for Helen at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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